Adverb Placement
Entdecken Sie die richtige Platzierung von Adverbien im Deutschen, von Zeit- und Ortsangaben bis zu Modal- und Gradadverbien, mit klaren Regeln und Beispielen für eine präzise Satzstruktur.
Discover the correct placement of adverbs in German, from time and place expressions to modal and degree adverbs, with clear rules and examples for precise sentence structure.
Adverbs are small words that add meaning about how, when, where, and how often something happens. This guide shows how to place adverbs naturally in English sentences.
Adverbs of Manner
Adverbs of manner describe how an action is done and usually come after the main verb or after the object if there is one.
Examples
| Sentence | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| She sings beautifully. | How she sings | |
| He drove quickly. | How he drove | |
| They answered the questions calmly. | How they answered |
Adverbs of Time
Adverbs of time tell when something happens and can appear at the beginning or end of a sentence for emphasis.
Examples
| Sentence | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| I will call you tomorrow. | When I will call | |
| Yesterday we went to the park. | When we went | |
| She arrived an hour ago. | When she arrived |
Adverbs of Frequency
Adverbs of frequency show how often an action occurs and usually go before the main verb or after to be.
Examples
| Sentence | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| He always arrives on time. | How often he arrives | |
| They are often late. | How often they are late | |
| I sometimes eat out. | How often I eat out |
Adverbs of Place
Adverbs of place indicate where an action happens and typically come after the verb or at the end of the sentence.
Examples
| Sentence | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| She looked everywhere. | Where she looked | |
| Put the book here. | Where to put the book | |
| They live nearby. | Where they live |
Adverbs That Modify Sentences
Some adverbs comment on the whole sentence and usually appear at the beginning, middle, or end for effect.
Examples
| Sentence | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| Fortunately, we arrived on time. | Sentence-level comment | |
| We have, luckily, saved some money. | Sentence-level comment | |
| They will win, probably. | Sentence-level comment |
Modifiers and Word Order
Adverbs can be moved for emphasis, but changing placement may slightly change the sentence focus. Adverbs usually stick close to the word they modify.
Examples
| Sentence | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| She quickly finished the report. | Focus on how she finished | |
| She finished the report quickly. | Default from | |
| Quickly, she finished the report. | Emphasis on quickly |
Summary
Adverbs add important details about manner, time, frequency, place, and sentence meaning. Place adverbs naturally near the verb, object, or sentence position that matches their function, and use movement for emphasis when needed.
Suggested Reading
English File by Unknown (Oxford University Press series)
Practical English Usage by Michael Swan
English Grammar in Use by Raymond Murphy
English Grammar Workbook: Simple Grammar for Non-Native Speakers by SIMPLE English Language School
Essential Grammar in Use by Raymond Murphy
New Concept English by L. G. Alexander
Oxford Practice Grammar by Norman Coe, Mark Harrison & Ken Paterson
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation by Jane Straus
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